Earring

1 of 2

Artist
Name	Unknown
Basic Info
Alternative Title	small package of Etruscan fragments (ring)
Period	Hellenistic period, Early
Created in	Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Etruria
Century	4th-3rd century BCE
Culture	Etruscan
Dimensions	0.5 x 2.3 cm (3/16 x 7/8 in.)
Harvard Museum
Department	Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics
Division	Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact	am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu

Context

The earring consists of a simple flat strip, slightly convex on the exterior, that is bent into a circle. One end is slightly pointed, while the other is shaped like a stylized flower or bell. Comparable examples are known from Etruscan areas such as Orvieto and Tarquinia (1).
 
NOTES:
 
1. M. Bonamici, Orvieto: La necropoli di Cannicella, Studi e materiali di archeologia orvietana 1 (Rome, 1994) 220; a pair from the necropolis of Crocefisso del Tufo is in the Museo Claudio Faina, Orvieto, inv. no. 1579.
 
Lisa M. Anderson

TechnicalDetails

Technical Observations

The patina is light green with areas of underlying black exposed. The earring is significantly mineralized with several small losses and pits. Many areas of the surface are well preserved. The boss end and the general shape were probably cast from a model made directly in wax. This was probably then flattened, finished, and bent into the circular shape by cold working. 
 
Henry Lie (submitted 2012)

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of the Misses Norton